Roma agree Wojciech Szczesny loan deal

The Serie A club have finalised the terms of the deal during extended talks with Arsenal on Wednesday.

Football Insider understands that Roma will pay a loan fee for Szczesny and also have an option to buy him at the end of the 2015-16 season.

Szczesny sanctioned his agent to find him a new club following a change of heart inspired by the early weeks of the Gunners’ pre-season programme.

Football Insider revealed that Wenger told Szczesny in a meeting at the end of last season that Petr Cech was likely to join and he was free to find a new club. The Pole initially rejected the manager’s invitation and told him he wanted to battle Cech for a first-team spot next season.

But Szczesny made a U-turn following Arsenal’s pre-season tour of Asia, where his new status became abundantly clear.

Arsene Wenger still has hopes that Szczesny, 25, can develop into a consistently top-class shot-stopper which is why he will leave the door open for him to return to Arsenal.

But the Gunners manager is content for the Pole to leave Emirates Stadium, temporarily at least, and for Colombian David Ospina to deputise for new No1 Petr Cech.